We find this belief
mentioned as far back as the eleventh century. In an old ballad of that
period occurs the following passage:--
"A marvel high and strange is seen full many a time--
When to the murdered body nigh the man that did the crime,
Afresh the wounds will bleed. The marvel now was found--
That Hagan felled the champion with treason to the ground."
Several centuries after this, we find it mentioned in another ballad,
entitled "Young Huntin":--
"O white were his wounds washen,
As white as a linen clout,
But when Lady Maisry she cam' near,
His wounds they gushed out."
The reason for this marvel was ascribed by the Rev. Mr. Wodrow, to the
wonderful providence of God, who had said, "thou shalt not suffer a
murderer to live," and had, in order that the command might be justly
carried out, provided the means whereby murderers might be readily
detected. This superstition certainly survived within this century, and
I have heard many instances adduced to prove the truth of bleeding
taking place on the introduction of the murderer.
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